Slicing machine



Feb. 19, 1924. 1,483,878

E. A. HAND SLICING MACHINE Filed July 10 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1

Feb. 19 1924.

E. A. HAND SLICING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10 1920 Patented Feb. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST A. HAND, OF HORNELL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO A. J. DEER COMPANY, IN-

OOBI'ORATEZD, OF HORNELL, NEW

YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SLICING MACHINE.

Application filed July 10, 1920. Serial No. 895,184.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST A. HAND, a subject of the King of En land, residing at Hornell, in the county of gteuben and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Slicin Machines, of which the following is a speci cation.

This invention relates to a grinding or sharpening mechanism which is more particularly designed for sharpening the rotary knife or blade of a slicing machine.

One of the objects of this invention is to so arrange the grinding stones or wheels that they are out of sight when not in use and therefore need not be provided with polished surfaces which require constant clean-' ing to keep the same neat and attractive in appearance.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide simple and efiicient means for moving the sharpener into and out of its operative position by motion derived from moving the slicereceiving tray out of and into its normal osition.

Furthero jects of this invention aretoimprove the means for mounting the sharpening stones or wheels to obtain the necessary pressure of the same against the rotary cutter blade and engage the same successively with the convex and concave sides of the same during the sharpening operation; also to provide adjusting means for positioning the grinding stone so as to ensure pro er turning of the latter while in use; and a so. to rovide efiicient and convenient means for ad usting the stones to take up wear when this becomes necessary.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top p an view of a slicin machine embodying our improvements an showing the slice tray in its operative position and the sharpenin mechanism in its inoperative position. i ure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view 0 the same, showing the slice tray in its inoperative position and the sharpener in its operative position. Figure 3 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 33, Fig. 2, and showing the means for holding the tray away from the sharpener. Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary front elevations of the slicing machine corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2. Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary vertical sections, on an enlarged scale, taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 2.

Figures 8 and 9 are fragmentary vertical sections, on an enlarged scale, taken on lines 8-8 and 9-9, Fig. 4. Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view taken along the line 1010, Fig. 4, looking upwardly.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

10 represents the main frame of the slicing machine which may be of any suitable construction to support the various working parts of the same. Pivotally mounted on this frame so as to rotate about a horizontal lon itudinal axis is a rotar cutter blade or kni e 11 which is preferab y constructed in the form of a concavo-convex disk which is arranged with its concave side toward the article which is to be sliced and has its outtin edge produced on the periphery thereof providing the same with an annular bevelbd face 12 which is arranged on the convex side of the disk and inclines from the inner part of said convex front side outwardly and rearwardly to the concave rear side of the same, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7. This cutter disk turns so that the operative ortion of its cutting edge moves downward y this movement of the disk being effected either by power or manually by an suitable means.

e article to be sliced, such as a piece of meat, cheese, sausage or bread, is supported on a table or carriage 13 which preferably reciprocates with its front end ast the cutter disk so that the latter cuts slices from the front end of the article resting on the table. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the article to be sliced on the table, also for reciprocating the table past the cutter, and also for advancing the article on the table as the cutting of the slices successively from the front end of the same progresses, such for instance as those now commonly employed for this purpose.

The sharpening mechanism whereby the edge of the cutter disk is sharpened from time to time when the same becomes dull and which contains our invention is preferably constructed as follows:

14 represents a slice tray which 18 mounted below the path of movement of the carriage 13 and adapted to receive the sl ces which are cut from the article by the knife. This tray is preferably constructed in the form of a plate removably supported on a tray carrier 15 pivoted by means of a vertical pivot pin 16 to a bracket 17 which is secured to a post 18 rising from the adjacent part of the main frame, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 9 and 10. The movement of the tray carrier horizontally toward the cutter, grinder and article supporting table is preferably arrested when these parts are in their normal operative position, this being preferably effected by a stop lug 19 ar ranged on the tray carrier and engaging a stop shoulder 20 formed on the adjacent art of the bracket, as shown by full lines in Fig. 4 and by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The tray carrier is preferably automatically locked when moved into its normal position by a catch or bolt 21 which is guided in the stop lug 19 and has its inner end yieldingly held in engagement with a recess 22 in the bracket 17 by a spring 23 interposed between this lug and a pin 24 on this locking bolt, the outer end of the latter having a finger piece 25 for manipulating the same. lVhile the locking bolt is disengaged from the recess 22 and moved with the tray carrier into an inoperative position around the pivot pin 16, the inner end of this locking bolt rides on a curved guide face 26 formed on the edge of the bracket 17 and leading over the recess 22 and to the stop shoulder 20.

27 represents a rotary bevel grinding wheel or stone of comparatively large diameter which is employed for grinding the bevel on the convex side of the cutter disk and sharpening the same. This sharpening wheel or stone when in its operative position as shown in Fig. 6, is arranged with its axis at an angle to that of the cutter disk so that the face of this sharpening wheel is parallel with the bevel on the cutter disk and this wheel is adapted to be moved. while in this position, lengthwise of its axis for the purpose of engaging the face of this wheel with the beveledsurface of the cutter and disengaging the same therefrom. For this purpose the sharpening stone or wheel is mounted on the inner or rear end of a spindle 28 which is journaled in a bearing 29 formed in a shifting rod 30. The latter is movable lengthwise in a carrying sleeve 31 and is yieldingly moved in a direction in which the stone 27 is withdrawn from the cutter disk by means of a spring '32 arranged between the periphery of the shifting rod and the bore of the carrying sleeve and hearing at one end against a shoulder 33 on the shifting rod and at its other end against a shoulder 34 on the carrying sleeve, as shown in Fig. 6.

The backward movement of the sharpening stone is limited by engagement of a collar 35 on the spindle 28 with theinner end of the carrying sleeve. The outer end of the shifting rod isprovided with a finger piece 36 for pushing the sharpening wheel adjacent part of the main frame.

toward the bevel of the cutter disk. The shifting rod and spindle ot the bevel grind' ing stone are compelled to move lengthwise together by a coupling pin 50 passing trans versely through the shifting rod and an annular groove 51 in the spindle, as shown in Fig. 6.

After the cutter disk has been sharpened on its beveled convex side, the concave side of the same is ground at the edge thereof for the purpose of removing any burr which may have been formed thereon during the grinding of the beveled surface and thus producing a keen edge which will cut perfect slices from the article to be sliced. The removal of this burr is efi'ected by a burr grinding stone or wheel 37 which when in its operative position has its axis arranged parallel with the axis oi. the cutter disk and its grinding face arranged opposite the concave side of the cutter disk and parallel with the plane of rotation thereof. as shown in Fig. 7. The burr grinding wheel or stone is movable lengthwim of its axis toward and from the concave side of the cutter disk and is secured to the inner end of a spindle 38 which is iournaled in a bearing formed in a shifting rod 40. The latter and the spindle 38 are held against axial movement relatively to each other by a collar 41 on the inner end of the spindle engaging with the inner end of the shifting rod and a washer 42 held in place by a screw nut-43 at the other end of said spindle and engaging with the other end of this shift ing rod. as shown in Fig. 7. The shifting rod 40 is guided in a carrying sleeve 4-1 and the same and the parts associated with the same are moved lengthwise in the direction for disengaging the burr grinding wheel from the cutter disk by means of a spring 45 arranged between the periphery of the shifting rod 40 and the bore of the carrying sleeve 4-1 and engaging one of its ends against a shoulder 46 on the bearing sleeve and its other end against a shoulder 47 on the shifting rod. The movement of the butt, grinding stone or wheel away from the cutter disk is limited by a finger piece 48 secured to the outer end of the shifting rod 40 and adapted to engage the outer end of the carrying sleeve 44.

Means are provided whereby the two grinding stones when not in use are moved into an inoperative position below the tray where they are concealed from view but may be raised from underneath the tray and moved into operative relation to the cutter blade when the latter requires sharpening. The means for this purpose shown in the drawings are constructed as follows:

49 represents a rock shaft arranged horizontally below the path of the tray and its' carrier and journaled in bearings 52 on the At its inner end this suit is rovided with a rock arm 53 having two sockets 54. 5:) in one of which is adjustahly secured a shank 5G on the carrying sleeve of the bevel grinding wheel by means of a set screw 57. while in the other is adjustahly secured a shank 58 on the carrying sleeve of the hurr grinding wheel by means of a set screw 59. The shaft 4!) is turned in the direction for raising the rock arm 53 and the grinding wheels or stones mounted thereon. by means of a spring 6t] surrounding this shaft and secured at; one end to a collar 80 thereon while its other end is secured to an adjacent part of the main frame. as shown in Fig. R. The movement of the rock arm in this direction is l mited by a stop (ll having preferably the form of a screw arranged on the rock arm and adapted to engage a stop 62 on the main frame. these stops being so arranged that they arrest the upward movement of the grinding wheels when they are in the proper position to operate on the cutter disk. The raising of the grinding wheels under the action of the spring 60 in the present installation is only possible when the slice tray is moved into its inoperative position away from the cutter disk and when this tray is again returned to its operative position relative to the knife and article holder then the grinding wheels are automatically depressed into their inoperative position below the tray. This is accomplished by providing the lower end of the pivot pin 16 of the tray carrier with a. tappet or rotary cam 63 which engages with a cam arm or roller it on the outer end of the rock shaft. as shown in Figs. "1. 5 and 10. This cam is so constructed that as it tlll'fls with the t ay carrier into the operative position of the latter. it depresses the cam arm and moves the grinding wheels below the tray carrier. as shown in Figs. l and l. and when swinging the tray carrier into its inoperative position the cam releases the cam arm and permits the same to he raised by the spring 0 until the grinding wheels are elevated above the path of the tray carrier and into their proper posit on relative to the cutter disk. \Vhilc thus elevated the attendant first pushes the bevel grinding wheet iutocugagement with the bevel of the cutter a-sutticicnt length of time to sharpen it and then releases the same. after which the burr grinding wheel is momentarily engaged with the concave side of the cutter disk in order to remove the burr and thus releases this last mentioned grinding wheel. l pon now swinging the tray carrier into its operative position relatively to the cutter disk and article supporting table or plate. the grinding wheels are automatically lowered below the path of the tray carrier and the attendant can now resume the slicing opera tion of the machine.

During the grinding operation the stones are rotated by engagement with the edge portion of the cutter disk.

In practice the composition of the hurr grinding stone is of much finer grade than the bevel grinding stone in order toreduce to a minimum the liability of grinding oil too much of the concave side of the cutter disk. but the bevel grinding stone is preter ably of a character to secure the maximum cutting or grinding capacity on the cutter disk.

It will be noted that by n ans ot' the set screws 5?. 59 the bevel and hurr grinding stones may shift on the rock arm 53 toward the axis of the cutter disk and thus main tain the sharpening device in its proper position relative to the edge of the cutter disk as the repeated sharpening of the latter gradually reduces its diameter.

Ily thus arranging the sharpening mechanism below the slice tray when the same is not in use. the same is concealed from view and thus avoids the necessity of constant cleaning and polishing which otherwise would be necessary to make the machine look presentable.

Furthermore. by so organizing the slice tray and the sharpening mechanism that the tray must he moved away from the stones of the sharpener before sl'iarpening of the cutter disk can he effected. it follows that any dust. nit or dirt which is removed from the cutter disk during the grinding operation will not fall upon the slice tray from which it has to he immediately cleaned off to rmit of using the machine. but instead it (rops onto the lower part of the frame and adjacent. part of the table or floor from which it can be subsequently removed at a more opportune time without unduly interrupting the operation of the machine.

Moreover. by raising and lowering the grinding stones automatically upon moving the slice tray out of and into their operative position. no conflict between these elements is possible and no particular atten tion on the part of the attendant is required to obtain harmony of action in this respect.

I claim as my invention:

1. A slicing machine comprising a rotarv cutter disk. holding means for supporting the article to be sliced in. position to he operated upon by said disk, a trav movable toward and from its slice receiving position relatively to said disk and holding means. a carrier which supports said tray and having a stop. a bracket upon which said carrier is pivoted to turn about a vertical axis and which is n'ovided with a stop adapted to he engaged by said stop on the carrier. and a curved face which is concentric with the axis of said carrier and leads to said sto on the bracket and a recess in said curved ace. and a spring catch arranged on the carrie'. and

adapted to engage said curved face and said recess.

2. A slicing machine comprising a rotary cutter disk, holding means for supporting the article to be sliced in position to be operated upon by said disk, means for sharpening said cutter disk having grinding elements whigh are movable toward and from the edge of said disk, a tray adapted to receive the slices cut from the article by said disk and movable toward and from its receiving position, and means for controlling the operation of said sharpening means by the motion of said tray.

3. A slicing machine comprising a rotary cutter disk, holding means for supporting the article to be sliced in position to be operatcd upon by said disk, a tray movable toward and from its slice receiving position relatively to said disk and holding means. grinding stones movable into an inoperative position below said tray and into an operative position above said tray, relative to said cutter disk, and means for automatically moving said stones into and out of their erative position as the tray is moved out iii and into its operative position, and vice versa.

4. A slicing machine comprising a rotary :utter disk, holding means for supporting the article to be sliced in position to be operated upon by said disk, a tray movable toward and from its slice receiving position relatively to said disk and holding means, grinding stones movable into an inoperative position below said tray and into an operative position above said tray relative to said cutter disk, and means for automatically moving said stones into and out of their operative position as the tray is moved out of and into its operative position. and vice versa, including a rock shaft having two arms one of which carries said stones, and a tappet connected with said tray and operating on the other arm of said rock shaft.

5. A slicing machine comprising a rotary cutter disk, holding means for supporting the article to be sliced in position to be 0perated upon by said disk, a tray movable toward and from its slice receiving position relatively to said disk and holding means, grinding stones movable into an inoperative position below said tray and into an opera tive position above said tray relative to said cutter disk, and means for automatically moving said stones into and out of their operative position as the tray is moved out of and into its operative position, and vice versa. including a rock shaft having two arms one of which carries said stones, a tappct connected with said tray and operating on the other arm of said rock shaft for turning the rock shaft in a direction for lowering said stones into their inoperative position, and a spring operating to turn said shaft in the direction for raising said stones into their operative position.

6. A slicing machine comprising a rotary cutter disk, holding means for supporting the article to be sliced in position to be operated upon by said disk, a tray pivoted to swing about a vertical axis toward and from its operative and slice receiving position relative to said cutter disk and holding means, and means for sharpening said cutter disk including grinding stones, a shifting arm carrying said stones, a horizontal rock shaft carrying said shifting arm, a cam arm arranged on said shaft, a spring for turning said shaft to raise said shifting arm, and a cam turning with said tray and operating on said cam arm for turning said shaft to lower said stones.

7. A slicing machine comprising a rotary cutter disk, holding means for supporting the article to be sliced in position to be 0 erated upon by said disk, a tray movabe toward and from its slice receiving position relatively to said disk and holding means, grinding stones movable into an inoperative position below said tray and into an operative position above said tray relative to said cutter disk, and means for automatically moving said stones into and out of their operative position as the tray is moved out of and into its operative position, and vice versa, including a rock shaft having two arms one of which carries said stones, a tap pet connected with said tray and operating onwthe other arm of said rock shaft for t,qrning the rock shaft in the direction for lowering said stones into their inoperative position, a spring operating to turn said shaft in the direction for raising said stones into their operative position, and a stop device for limiting the movement of said stones into their operative position.

8. A slicing machine comprising a rotary concavo-convex cutter disk, holding means for supporting the article to be sliced by said cutter disk, and means for sharpening said disk including a rotary bevel grinding stone which has its axis arranged at an angle to the axis of the cutter disk and on a line extending through said cutter disk and is adapted to engage its fiat side with the convex side of the cutter disk adjacent to the edge thereof, a rotary burr grinding disk having its axis arranged parallel with the axis of the cutter disk and adapted to engage its lat side with the concave side of sald disk adjacent to the edge thereof, and a rock arm on which both of said rotary grinding stones are mounted.

9. A slicing machine comprising a rotary concavo-convex cutter disk, holding means for supporting the article to be sliced by said cutter disk, and means for sharpening said disk including a rotary grinding stone, at spindle on which said stone is mounted,

and a shiftin rod in which said spindle is journaled antgwhich is movable axially and which is provided with a handle for manipulating the same.

10. A slicing machine comprising a rotary concavo-convex cutter disk, holding means for supporting the article to be sliced by said cutter disk, and means for sharpening said disk including a rotary grinding stone, a spindle on which said stone is mounted, a shifting rod in which said spindle is journaled and which is movable axially, and a carrying sleeve in which said shifting rod is slidably mounted and which is provided with a handle for manipulating the same 11. A slicing machine comprising a rotary concavo-convex cutter disk, holding means for supporting the article to be sliced by said cutter disk, and means for sharpening said disk including a rotary grinding stone, a spindle on which said stone is mounted, a shifting rod in which said spindle is journaled and which is movable axially, a carrying sleeve in which said shifting rod is slidably mounted, a spring interposed between said shifting rod and carrying sleeve and operating to move the latter in the direction for disengaging said stone from the cutter disk, and a stop device for limiting the movement of said stone under the action of said spring and which is provided with a handle for manipulating the same.

12. A slicing machine comprising a rotary concavo-convex cutter disk, holding means for supporting the article to be sliced by said cutter disk, and means for sharpening said disk including a rotary grinding stone, a spindle on which said stone is mounted, a shifting rod in which said spindle is journaled and which is movable axially, a carrying sleeve in which said shifting rod is slidably mounted, a spring interposed between said shifting rod and carrying sleeve and operating to move the latter in the direction for disengaging said stone from the cutter disk, a stop device for limiting the movement of said stone under the action of said spring. each of said carrying sleeves being provided with a stem. and a single rock arm swinging toward and from said disk and provided with sockets in which the stems of said carrying sleeves are adjustable toward and from the axis of said cutter disk.

13, A slicing machine comprising a rotary concavowonvcx disk, holding means for sup porting the article to be sliced by said cutter disk, and means for sharpening said disk in cluding a rotary grinding stone, a rock arm having its axis arranged parallel with the axis of the disk and movable in a direction transverse to the axis of said cutter disk, and means for mounting said stone on said arm which permit of adjusting the stone on said arm in a direction toward and from the axis of said cutter disk.

ERNEST A. HAND.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified thatiin Letters Patent No. 1,483,878, runted February 19, 1994, upon the application of Ernest A. Hand, of Home, l ew York, for an imrovernent in Slicing Machines, errors appear in the printed specification requirmg correction as follows: Page 5, lines 14 and 15, claim 10, and lines 31 and 32, claim 11, strike out the words and which is provided with a handle for manipulating the same and insert the same to follow the word axially in lines 12, 23, and 40, in claims 10, 11, and 12, respectively; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may con form to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this (3th day of May, A. D. 1924.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

